The Signpost Challenge Hike

Location: Start and Finish: Marple (Stockport, Greater Manchester.

Venue: Marple Senior Citizen's Hall, Marple Memorial Park

Date: Sunday 18^th October 2026

Two Routes: 24 miles and 17 miles. The route takes walkers over four hills Werneth Low, Combs Edge, Lantern Pike, Chinley Churn and the Goyt Valley on the Stockport/Derbyshire border. 

Ascent: On the long course 4,250 ft (or 1,300 m)  and on the short course 2,900 ft (or 884 m).

Key feature of the event: the route will use Peak and Northern Footpaths Society (PNFS) signs as route markers; the event will be held in association with PNFS.

Requires navigational skills. The route will not be marked.

Four checkpoints with food and drinks - includes an indoor CP on each course. (In addition there are 6 self clips on the long course and 3 on the short course.)

To be completed in 10 hours.

Entry fees: LDWA Member  £17.00  Non Member  £22.00  (includes refreshments at the checkpoints and a hot meal at the finish)

Enter: https://www.sientries.co.uk Entries open March 1st 2026

Route Description:

The longer course includes three major hills totalling approximately 4,300 feet of ascent. Those on the shorter course will take on two of the hills requiring 2,900 feet of ascent. There are four checkpoints and you will need to use your navigation skills to find your route between the checkpoints on the recommended route. You will also visit several of the distinctive Peak and Northern Footpaths Signposts.

From the venue in Marple you will climb onto Werneth Low and Idle Hill (Checkpoint 1), and then descend to the River Etherow, crossing into Derbyshire. From Charlesworth, the second climb takes you onto the dramatic Cown Edge, with amazing views of Bleaklow and Kinder.  On the Long Route you will go to Lantern Pike, before descending to the Sett Valley Trail, while the Short Route heads to the village of Rowarth.

The long route climbs again onto Chinley Churn and to one of the earliest of the PNFS Signposts (number 5 erected in 1905) at Peep-o’-Day . After crossing Cracken Edge at 450 metres (1476 feet), you will drop down to the attractive Goyt Valley. You will pass through the hidden gritstone gorge, called The Torrs, at New Mills and traverse the Millennium Walkway above the River Goyt. There’s one final climb from Hague Bar to the Fox Inn at Brook Bottom (Checkpoint 4). The last few miles follow the river valley passing the Roman Lakes before the final climb to the finish in Marple.

A full route description and gpx files of the routes will be mailed to all participants before the event.

This is a true challenge for walkers and runners over the fantastic countryside of the western edges of the High Peak.

We will be delighted to welcome walkers and runners to Marple and offer you refreshments before and after the race.

Entries (limit of 200) can be made via SiEntries.